One of the reported downsides to the 128GB Microsoft (MSFT) Surface Pro is that only around 70% of its advertised storage can actually be used for user data — in BGR’s review of the Surface Pro, for instance, we found that the 128GB version of the device had only around 85.3GB of actual free space. But new analysis from ZDNet’s Ed Bott shows that this is only slightly less storage than the 128GB MacBook Air, which has roughly 92.2GB of usable storage. And what’s more, Bott found a way to easily free up more storage on the Surface Pro that wasn’t available on the MacBook Air: By “using the built-in Recovery Media Creator” to “copy the contents of that large Windows 8 Recovery partition to a USB flash drive,” Bott freed up around 8GB of extra data. The bottom line, says Bott, is that “if you’re going to complain about operating systems using too much of the available storage, you’d better make sure your letter to Redmond is cc’ed to Cupertino.”

I first laid eyes on Microsoft’s (MSFT) Surface tablet just about four months ago. It was a rainy Monday morning in Redmond, Washington and we were barely into the first 20 minutes of a full day of meetings when I knew the Surface was a huge, huge deal. Microsoft — the world’s largest software company, responsible for the operating system that powers roughly 92% of all personal computers on the planet — was now a hardware vendor. More →

There is a serious problem with both the Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT versions of Microsoft’s (MSFT) Surface tablets: the company’s new operating systems are much more bloated than comparable platforms. The 32GB Surface with Windows RT only offers 20GB of usable space and unfortunately, the higher-end Surface Pro is even worse. As confirmed by The Verge, the 128GB and 64GB models of Microsoft’s upcoming tablet only offer 83GB and 23GB of free space, respectively. This could be a big problem for Microsoft and will undoubtedly be taken into consideration when people are looking to purchase the Surface or Surface Pro.

Microsoft (MSFT) previously announced that the Windows 8-powered version of its Surface tablet would launch in January starting at $899. The company was unable to meet its deadline, however, and on Tuesday announced that the device will now launch on February 9th in the U.S. and Canada. The base model of the Surface Pro is equipped with a 10.6-inch high-definition display, an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of internal storage and a microSDXC slot for up to 64GB of additional memory. Microsoft will also be offering a 128GB model for $999. While both models come with a Surface stylus, the magnetic Touch Cover and Type Cover are not included and will be available for $120 and $130, respectively. The company also said it will soon double the number of markets where the Surface with Windows RT is available when it launches in 13 new European countries.

Microsoft (MSFT) announced pricing for its upcoming Surface Pro tablet last week and tech bloggers’ heads immediately exploded. The Surface Pro — Microsoft’s first own-brand Windows 8 offering — will start at $899 for a unit with 64GB of internal storage. That price includes a stylus, an accessory that will be appreciated by some potential users but certainly not all, but it does not include a Touch Cover or a Type Cover keyboard. Microsoft’s unique keyboard cover accessories are one of a few key differentiating factors that help set Surface tablets apart, so many viewed this omission as yet another strike against the Surface Pro. More →